Podcasts about Daily devotional

A successful businessman spent the last few decades of his life doing all he could to give away his fortune. A multi-billionaire, he donated cash to a variety of causes such as bringing peace to Northern Ireland, modernizing Vietnam’s health care system, and not long before he died he spent $350 million to turn New York City’s Roosevelt Island into a technology hub. The man said, “I believe strongly in giving while living. I see little reason to delay giving. . . . Besides, it’s a lot more fun to give while you live than to give while you’re dead.” Give while you live—what an amazing attitude to have. In John’s account of the man born blind, while Jesus’ disciples were trying to determine “who sinned” (9:2), Jesus briefly addressed their question, then kept moving: “Neither . . . this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me” (vv. 3–4). Jesus’ miracles are very different from what we can give (even as we give ourselves through our work), but the ready and loving spirit behind them are the same. Let’s give, whether it is resources or our work, in a way that the works of God might be displayed. For God so loved the world that He gave. In turn, we’re to give while we live.

Are things of self-pleasure, such as masturbating, harmful to the body since you are the temple of God?This week, Pastor Mike answers tough questions from viewers like you.Check out our other podcasts! Search for these on your favorite podcast app. – The Nonmicrowaved Truth with C.L. Whiteside – Little Things, with Amber Albee Swenson– Bible Threads, with Dr. Bruce Becker– Evening Encouragements With Pastor Jeremy– Time of Grace With Pastor Mike NovotnyTo stay rooted in Jesus, subscribe to our daily email! https://timeofgrace.org/subscribe/ Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support, please donate here: http://bit.ly/2K06lcJYou can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing to get new videos each weekday: http://bit.ly/385Piz4

When asked how he became a journalist, a man shared the story of his mother’s dedication to his pursuit of education. While traveling on the subway each day, she collected newspapers left behind on seats and gave them to him. While he especially enjoyed reading about sports, the papers also introduced him to knowledge about the world, which ultimately opened his mind to a vast range of interests. Children are wired with natural curiosity and a love for learning, so introducing them to the Scriptures at an early age is of great value. They become intrigued by God’s extraordinary promises and exciting stories of biblical heroes. As their knowledge deepens, they can begin to comprehend the consequences of sin, their need of repentance, and the joy found in trusting God. The first chapter of Proverbs, for instance, is a great introduction to the benefits of wisdom (Proverbs 1:1–7). Nuggets of wisdom found here shine a light of understanding on real-life situations. Developing a love of learning—especially about spiritual truths—helps us to grow stronger in our faith. And those who have walked in faith for decades can continue to pursue knowledge of God throughout their life. Proverbs 1:5 advises, “Let the wise listen and add to their learning.” God will never stop teaching us if we’re willing to open our heart and mind to His guidance and instruction.

To grow in my relationship with Jesus by spending 10 devoted minutes to Him every day...

How do we break the stereotype of judgmental Christians?This week, Pastor Mike answers tough questions from viewers like you.Check out our other podcasts! Search for these on your favorite podcast app. – The Nonmicrowaved Truth with C.L. Whiteside – Little Things, with Amber Albee Swenson– Bible Threads, with Dr. Bruce Becker– Evening Encouragements With Pastor Jeremy– Time of Grace With Pastor Mike NovotnyTo stay rooted in Jesus, subscribe to our daily email! https://timeofgrace.org/subscribe/ Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support, please donate here: http://bit.ly/2K06lcJYou can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing to get new videos each weekday: http://bit.ly/385Piz4

A German bank employee was in the middle of transferring 62.40 euros from a customer’s bank account when he accidentally took a power nap at his desk. He dozed off while his finger was on the "2" key, resulting in a 222 million euro (300 million dollars) transfer into the customer’s account. The fallout from the mistake included the firing of the employee’s colleague who verified the transfer. Although the mistake was caught and corrected, because he wasn’t watchful, the sleepy employee’s lapse almost became a nightmare for the bank. Jesus warned His disciples that if they didn’t remain alert, they, too, would make a costly mistake. He took them to a place called Gethsemane to spend some time in prayer. As He prayed, Jesus experienced a grief and sadness such as He’d never known in His earthly life. He asked Peter, James and John to stay awake to pray and “keep watch” with Him (Matthew 26:38), but they fell asleep (vv. 40–41). Their failure to watch and pray would leave them defenseless when the real temptation of denying Him came calling. In the hour of Jesus’ greatest need, the disciples lacked spiritual vigilance. May we heed Jesus’ words to remain spiritually awake by being more devoted to spending time with Him in prayer. As we do, He’ll strengthen us to resist all kinds of temptations and avoid the costly mistake of denying Jesus.

To grow in my relationship with Jesus by spending 10 devoted minutes to Him every day...

In this modern-day era, is it okay for people live together before getting married?This week, Pastor Mike answers tough questions from viewers like you.Check out our other podcasts! Search for these on your favorite podcast app. – The Nonmicrowaved Truth with C.L. Whiteside – Little Things, with Amber Albee Swenson– Bible Threads, with Dr. Bruce Becker– Evening Encouragements With Pastor Jeremy– Time of Grace With Pastor Mike NovotnyTo stay rooted in Jesus, subscribe to our daily email! https://timeofgrace.org/subscribe/ Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support, please donate here: http://bit.ly/2K06lcJYou can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing to get new videos each weekday: http://bit.ly/385Piz4

My son Geoff was leaving a store when he saw an abandoned walking frame (a mobility aid) on the ground. I hope there isn’t a person back there who needs help, he thought. He glanced behind the building and found a homeless man unconscious on the pavement. Geoff roused him and asked if he was okay. “I’m trying to drink myself to death,” he responded. “My tent broke in a storm and I lost everything. I don’t want to live.” Geoff called a Christian rehabilitation ministry, and while they waited for help, he ran home briefly and brought the man his own camping tent. “What’s your name?” Geoff asked. “Geoffrey,” the homeless man answered, “with a G.” Geoff hadn’t mentioned his own name or its uncommon spelling. “Dad,” he told me later, “that could have been me.” Geoff once struggled with substance abuse himself, and he helped the man because of the kindness he’d received from God. Isaiah the prophet used these words to anticipate God’s mercy to us in Jesus: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). Christ, our Savior, didn’t leave us lost, alone, and hopeless in despair. He chose to identify with us and lift us in love, so that we may be set free to live anew in Him. There is no greater gift.

Is it true that women aren't allowed to hold higher positions in the church? This seems sexist and rudimentary.This week, Pastor Mike answers tough questions from viewers like you.Check out our other podcasts! Search for these on your favorite podcast app. – The Nonmicrowaved Truth with C.L. Whiteside – Little Things, with Amber Albee Swenson– Bible Threads, with Dr. Bruce Becker– Evening Encouragements With Pastor Jeremy– Time of Grace With Pastor Mike NovotnyTo stay rooted in Jesus, subscribe to our daily email! https://timeofgrace.org/subscribe/ Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support, please donate here: http://bit.ly/2K06lcJYou can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing to get new videos each weekday: http://bit.ly/385Piz4

A fierce thunderstorm lashed Memphis, Tennessee, on the evening of April 3, 1968. Weary and feeling ill, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. decided not to give his planned speech for striking sanitation workers at a church hall. He was surprised by an urgent phone call saying a large crowd had braved the weather to hear him. So he went to the hall and spoke for forty minutes, delivering what some say was his greatest speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.” The next day, King was killed by an assassin’s bullet, but his speech still inspires oppressed people that they’ll “get to the Promised Land.” Likewise, early followers of Jesus were uplifted by a stirring message. The book of Hebrews, written to encourage Jewish believers facing threats for their faith in Christ, offers firm spiritual encouragement to not lose hope. As it urged, “strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees” (v. 12). As Jews, they would recognize that appeal as originally coming from the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 35:3). But now, as Christ’s disciples, they were called to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (vv. 1–2). The writer encouraged them: “You will not grow weary and lose heart” (v. 3). Certainly squalls and storms await us in this life. But in Jesus, we outlast life’s tempests by standing in Him.

There's only one place to find true happiness, and we have it. Don't become distracted and forget to share it with the world.About Little Things:Amber Albee Swenson, one of our Time of Grace writers and bloggers, will help you navigate through some of life's challenges and struggles by using Scripture and her own experiences of being a mom, wife, speaker, teacher, and forgiven child of God . . . Because in God's kingdom, the little things ARE the big things.Check out our other podcasts! Search for these on your favorite podcast app. – The Nonmicrowaved Truth with C.L. Whiteside – Time of Grace With Pastor Mike Novotny– Grace Talks Daily Devotionals– Bible Threads, with Dr. Bruce Becker– Evening Encouragements With Pastor JeremyTime of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support, please donate here: http://bit.ly/2K06lcJ

As I sat in the courtroom, I witnessed several examples of the brokenness of our world: a daughter estranged from her mother; a husband and wife who’d lost the love they once had and now shared only bitterness; a husband yearning for reconciliation with his wife and to be reunited with his children. They were in desperate need of changed hearts, healing of wounds, and for God’s love to prevail. Sometimes when the world around us seems to hold only darkness and despair, it’s easy to give in to despair. But then the Spirit, who lives inside believers in Christ (John 14:26), reminded me that Jesus died for that brokenness and pain. When Jesus came into the world as a human, He brought light into the darkness (John 1:4; 8:12). We see this in His conversation with Nicodemus, who furtively came to Jesus in the cover of darkness, but left impacted by the Light (3:1–2; 19:38–40). Jesus taught Nicodemus that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (3:16). Yet even though Jesus brought light and love into the world, many remain lost in the darkness of their sin (vv. 19–20). If we’re His followers, we have the light that dispels darkness. In gratitude, let’s pray that God make us beacons of His love (Matthew 5:14–16).

Listen to the entire devotional series from this week as Pastor Caleb helps us find joy despite the brokenness of our world.Check out our other podcasts! Search for these on your favorite podcast app. – The Nonmicrowaved Truth with C.L. Whiteside – Little Things, with Amber Albee Swenson– Bible Threads, with Dr. Bruce Becker– Evening Encouragements With Pastor Jeremy– Time of Grace With Pastor Mike NovotnyTo stay rooted in Jesus, subscribe to our daily email! https://timeofgrace.org/subscribe/ Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support, please donate here: http://bit.ly/2K06lcJYou can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing to get new videos each weekday: http://bit.ly/385Piz4

Carl had contracted cancer and needed a double lung transplant. He asked God for new lungs, but felt odd doing so. He confessed it’s a strange thing to pray, because “someone has to die so I might live.” Carl’s dilemma highlights a basic truth of Scripture: God uses death to bring life. We see this in the story of the Exodus. Born into slavery, the Israelites languished under the oppressive hands of the Egyptians. Pharaoh wouldn’t release his grip until God made it personal. Every eldest son would die, unless the family killed a spotless lamb and slathered its blood across their doorposts (Exodus 12:6–7). Today, you and I have been born into the bondage of sin. Satan would not release his grip on us until God made it personal, sacrificing His perfect Son on the blood-spattered arms of the cross. Jesus calls us to join Him there. Paul explains, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). When we put our faith in God’s spotless Lamb, we commit to daily dying with Him—dying to our sin so we might rise with Him to new life (Romans 6:4–5). We express this faith in baptism and every time we say no to the shackles of sin and yes to the freedom of Christ. We’re never more alive than when we die with Jesus.

To grow in my relationship with Jesus by spending 10 devoted minutes to Him every day...

Wouldn't it be easier just to leave this broken world and finally be in heaven? Though we long for heaven, Pastor Caleb says, "Not so fast."Check out our other podcasts! Search for these on your favorite podcast app. – The Nonmicrowaved Truth with C.L. Whiteside – Little Things, with Amber Albee Swenson– Bible Threads, with Dr. Bruce Becker– Evening Encouragements With Pastor Jeremy– Time of Grace With Pastor Mike NovotnyTo stay rooted in Jesus, subscribe to our daily email! https://timeofgrace.org/subscribe/ Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support, please donate here: http://bit.ly/2K06lcJYou can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing to get new videos each weekday: http://bit.ly/385Piz4

In this Entry, we discuss Accountability ************************************************************************** Subscribe for Daily Devotionals by Faithwalker https://becomingadivinelady.com/daily-devotional ************************************************************************** Digital Resources: https://www.becomingadivinelady.com/shop ************************************************************************** I want to hear from you. Please email me at: info@becomingadivinelady.com *********************************************************************** Scriptures: Genesis 2: 4-9  Genesis 3: 1-13  ********************************************************************** Please Do Not Forget to Rate, Subscribe, and Leave a Comment!!   Thanks for listening! :)

I started reading the Bible to my sons when my youngest, Xavier, entered kindergarten. I would look for teachable moments and share verses that would apply to our circumstances and encourage them to pray with me. Xavier memorized Scripture without even trying. If we were in a predicament in which we needed wisdom, he’d blurt out verses that shone a light on God’s truth. One day, I got angry and spoke harshly within his earshot. My son hugged me and said, “Practice what you preach, Mama.” Xavier’s gentle reminder echoes the wise counsel of the apostle James as he addresses Jewish believers in Jesus scattered in various countries (James 1:1). Highlighting the various ways sin can interfere with our witness for Christ, James encourages God’s people to “humbly accept the word planted in” us (v. 21). By hearing but not obeying Scripture, we’re like people who look in the mirror and forget what we look like (vv. 23–24). We can lose sight of the privilege we’ve been given as image-bearers—made right with God through the blood of Christ. Believers in Jesus are commanded to share the gospel. The Holy Spirit changes us while empowering us to become better representatives and therefore messengers of the good news. As our loving obedience helps us reflect the light of God’s truth and love wherever He sends us, we can point others to Jesus by practicing what we preach.

Join Rob as he reads from Strength for Today - and learn why he *didn't* want to utilize this as fodder for today's discussion, and also why this particular situation is analogous to the comfortable familiarity in life where we often find ourselves in for various reasons.  The root of the discussion today is forgiveness.  Rob talks about how forgiveness often times is at odds with his ego and how uncomfortable being mindful of all of this is.  Learn how Rob is putting himself in uncomfortable positions in life in order to continue the journey of growth.  Uncertainty is terrifying.  The fear of the unknown is one of the drivers behind what we *don't* do.  It's one of the biggest motivators that keeps us justifying our current  set of circumstances...  Just how comfortable is the mediocrity of our life?Rob dives into the confidence that he has, how he gained the confidence and how fear doesn't simply "go away" when we gain confidence.  It means we have an entirely new skill set to learn - how to deal with new fears and dealing with things we don't necessarily want to deal with.  Are you more interested in burning bridges or building them?Disclaimer : There are affiliate links in this article, where you also have the opportunity to support the podcast and the community by utilizing products or services actively being put to use by the community.   Links:   Today's Daily Devotional:    Strength for Today - David Jeremiah  Proverbs 17:9The Strangest Secret by Earl NightingaleFREE DOWNLOAD - 2022 Goal Setting Workbook   48 Days Community - Learn More HereAll Around Growth Community Group Chat (Telegram)   ~  Connect and share on social media!  Twitter - https://twitter.com/allaroundgrowthFacebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/allaroundgrowthFacebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/allaroundgrowthTelegram Broadcast Channel - https://t.me/allaroundgrowthpodcastTelegram Group Chat - https://t.me/allaroundgrowth~  Subscribe to the All Around Growth Podcast Telegram Channel for show updates ONLY:    https://t.me/allaroundgrowthpodcast  ~Follow this link to ALL EPISODES   ~ How To Leave a Rating & Review in Apple Podcast AppThis really *does* affect the algorithm......as of recording in December 2021 - I would invite you to do this!The podcast game is changing - help us with a rating and review!~Have a Question or any feedback for Rob?Send me an email at allaroundgrowth@gmail.com~ Notes:N/ASupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/allaroundgrowth)

When we look at the world around us and all we see is darkness closing in, is God working?Check out our other podcasts! Search for these on your favorite podcast app. – The Nonmicrowaved Truth with C.L. Whiteside – Little Things, with Amber Albee Swenson– Bible Threads, with Dr. Bruce Becker– Evening Encouragements With Pastor Jeremy– Time of Grace With Pastor Mike NovotnyTo stay rooted in Jesus, subscribe to our daily email! https://timeofgrace.org/subscribe/ Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support, please donate here: http://bit.ly/2K06lcJYou can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing to get new videos each weekday: http://bit.ly/385Piz4

In 1929, as the US economy crashed, millions of people lost everything. But not Floyd Odlum. As everyone else panicked and sold their stocks at cut-rate prices, Odlum appeared to foolishly jump in and purchase stocks just as the nation’s future disintegrated. But Odlum’s “foolish” perspective paid off, yielding robust investments that endured for decades. God told Jeremiah to make what seemed like an absolutely ludicrous investment: “buy [the] field at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin” (Jeremiah 32:8). This was no time to be buying fields, however. The entire country was on the verge of being ransacked. “The army of the king of Babylon was . . . besieging Jerusalem” (v. 2) Whatever field Jeremiah purchased would soon be Babylon’s. What fool makes an investment when everything would soon be lost? Well, the person who’s listening to God—the One who intended a future no one else could envision. “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land” (v. 15). God saw more than the ruin. God promised to bring redemption, healing, and restoration. A ludicrous investment in a relationship or service for God isn’t foolish—it’s is the wisest possible move when God leads us to make it (and it's essential that we prayerfully seek to know He’s behind the instruction). A “foolish” investment in others as God leads makes all the sense in the world.

To grow in my relationship with Jesus by spending 10 devoted minutes to Him every day...

How do we find joy in a broken world that keeps getting more broken each day? Spoiler: We can't do it alone.Check out our other podcasts! Search for these on your favorite podcast app. – The Nonmicrowaved Truth with C.L. Whiteside – Little Things, with Amber Albee Swenson– Bible Threads, with Dr. Bruce Becker– Evening Encouragements With Pastor Jeremy– Time of Grace With Pastor Mike NovotnyTo stay rooted in Jesus, subscribe to our daily email! https://timeofgrace.org/subscribe/ Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support, please donate here: http://bit.ly/2K06lcJYou can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing to get new videos each weekday: http://bit.ly/385Piz4

At eighteen months old, little Maison had never heard his mother’s voice. Then doctors fitted him with his first hearing aids and his mom Lauryn asked Maison, “Can you hear me?” The child’s eyes lit up. “Hi Baby!” his mom added. A smiling Maison softly replied, “Hi!” In tears, the mother knew she’d witnessed a miracle. She’d given birth to Maison prematurely after gunmen shot her three times during a random home invasion. Weighing just one pound, Maison spent 158 days in intensive care and wasn’t expected to survive, let alone be able to hear. That heart-warming story reminds me of the God who hears us. King Solomon prayed fervently for God’s attuned ear, especially during troubling times. When “there is no rain ” (1 Kings 8:35), during “famine or plague,” disaster or disease (v. 37), war (v. 44), and even sin, “hear from heaven their prayer and their plea,” Solomon prayed, “and uphold their cause” (v. 45). In His goodness, God responded with a promise that still stirs our hearts. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). Heaven may seem a long way off. Yet Christ is with those who believe in Him. God hears our prayers, and He answers them.

To grow in my relationship with Jesus by spending 10 devoted minutes to Him every day...

The 24-hour news cycle makes information available all the time, tempting us to put our heads in the sand and ignore all the bad news. But that's not the answer, Pastor Caleb says. Instead, remember that we already have so much going for us.Check out our other podcasts! Search for these on your favorite podcast app. – The Nonmicrowaved Truth with C.L. Whiteside – Little Things, with Amber Albee Swenson– Bible Threads, with Dr. Bruce Becker– Evening Encouragements With Pastor Jeremy– Time of Grace With Pastor Mike NovotnyTo stay rooted in Jesus, subscribe to our daily email! https://timeofgrace.org/subscribe/ Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support, please donate here: http://bit.ly/2K06lcJYou can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing to get new videos each weekday: http://bit.ly/385Piz4

“ESCAPE” the hot-tub store billboard blared. It got my attention—and got me thinking. My wife and I talk about getting a hot tub . . . someday. It'd be like a vacation in our back yard! Except for the cleaning. And the electric bill. And . . . suddenly, the hoped-for escape starts to sound like something I might need escape from. Still, that word entices so effectively because it promises something we want: relief. Comfort. Security. Escape. It’s something our culture tempts and teases us with in myriad ways. Now, there's nothing wrong with resting, or a getaway to someplace beautiful. That said, there’s a difference between escaping life’s hardships and trusting God with them. In John 16, Jesus tells his disciples the next chapter of their lives will test their faith. “In this world you will have trouble,” He summarizes at the end. But then He adds this promise, “But take heart! I have overcome the world” (v. 33). Jesus didn’t want His disciples to cave in to despair. Instead, He invited them to trust Him, to know the rest that He provides: “I have told you these things,” he said, “so that in me you may have peace.” Jesus doesn’t promise us a pain-free life. But He does promise that as we trust and rest in Him, we can experience a peace that’s deeper and more satisfying than any escape the world tries to sell us.

To grow in my relationship with Jesus by spending 10 devoted minutes to Him every day...

Our world is filled with brokenness and uncertainty. But we have an incredible promise that can't be taken away.Check out our other podcasts! Search for these on your favorite podcast app. – The Nonmicrowaved Truth with C.L. Whiteside – Little Things, with Amber Albee Swenson– Bible Threads, with Dr. Bruce Becker– Evening Encouragements With Pastor Jeremy– Time of Grace With Pastor Mike NovotnyTo stay rooted in Jesus, subscribe to our daily email! https://timeofgrace.org/subscribe/ Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support, please donate here: http://bit.ly/2K06lcJYou can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing to get new videos each weekday: http://bit.ly/385Piz4

The little red rectangular box was magical. As a kid, I could play with it for hours. When I turned one knob on the box, I could create a horizontal line on its screen. Turn the other knob and voila—a vertical line. When I turned the knobs together, I could make diagonal lines, circles, and creative designs. But the real magic came when I turned my Etch A Sketch toy upside down, shook it a little and turned it right side up. A blank screen appeared, offering me the opportunity to create a new design. God’s forgiveness works much like that Etch A Sketch game. He wipes away our sins, creating a clean canvas for us. Even if we remember wrongs we committed, God chooses to forgive and forget. He’s wiped them out and doesn’t hold our sins against us. He doesn’t treat us according to our sinful actions (Psalm 103:10), but extends grace through forgiveness. We have a clean slate—a new life awaiting us when we seek God’s forgiveness. We can be rid of guilt and shame because of His amazing gift to us. The psalmist reminds us that our sins have been separated from us as the east is separated from the west (v. 12). That’s as far away as you can get! In God’s eyes, our sins no longer cling to us like a scarlet letter or a bad drawing. That’s reason to rejoice and to thank God for His amazing grace and mercy.

This is a nudge to get out of your comfort zone. Examine your life and be willing to change the things that aren't working. About Little Things:Amber Albee Swenson, one of our Time of Grace writers and bloggers, will help you navigate through some of life's challenges and struggles by using Scripture and her own experiences of being a mom, wife, speaker, teacher, and forgiven child of God . . . Because in God's kingdom, the little things ARE the big things.You can check out Amber's Bible study book, "Bible Moms," here: https://www.amberalbeeswenson.comTime of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support, please donate here: http://bit.ly/2K06lcJ

My friend Bill described Gerard, an acquaintance of his, as being “very far from God for a very long time.” But one day, after Bill met with Gerard and explained to him how God’s love has provided the way for us to be saved, Gerard became a believer. Through tears, he repented of his sin, and gave his life to Jesus. Afterward, Bill asked Gerard how he felt. Wiping away tears, he answered simply, “Washed.” What an amazing response! That’s precisely the essence of salvation made possible through faith in Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross. In 1 Corinthians 6, after Paul gives examples of how disobedience against God leads to separation from Him, he says, “That is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 11). “Washed,” “sanctified, “justified”—words that point to believers being forgiven and made right with Him. Titus 3:4–5 tells us more about this miraculous thing called salvation. “God our Savior . . . saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth.” Our sin keeps us from God, but through faith in Jesus, the penalty of it is washed away. We become new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17), gain access to our heavenly Father (Ephesians 2:18), and we’re made clean (1 John 1:7). He alone provides what we need to be washed.

Watch the entire devotional series from this week as Pastor Jeremy gives us the proper perspective as we start this new year.Check out our newest podcast, The Nonmicrowaved Truth with C.L. Whiteside! Search for it on your favorite podcast app.To stay rooted in Jesus, subscribe to our daily email! https://timeofgrace.org/subscribe/ Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support, please donate here: http://bit.ly/2K06lcJYou can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing to get new videos each weekday: http://bit.ly/385Piz4

In the wake of the coronavirus, retrieving something from my safety deposit box required even more layers of protocol than before. Now I had to make an appointment, call when I arrived to be granted entrance to the bank, show my identification and signature, and then wait to be escorted into the vault by a designated banker. Once inside, the heavy doors locked again until I’d found what I needed inside the metal box. Unless I followed the instructions, I wasn’t able to enter. In the Old Testament, God had specific protocols for entering part of the tabernacle called the Most Holy Place. Behind a special curtain, one that “separate[d] the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place,” only the high priest could enter once a year (Exodus 26:33; Hebrews 9:7). Aaron, and the high priests who would come after him, were to bring offerings, bathe, and wear sacred garments before entering (Leviticus 16:3–4). God’s instructions weren’t for health or security reasons; they were meant to teach the Israelites about the holiness of God and our need for forgiveness. At the moment of Jesus’ death, that special curtain was torn, symbolically showing that all people who believe in His sacrifice for their forgiveness of sin can enter God’s presence (Matthew 27:51). The tear in the tabernacle curtain is reason for our unending joy—Jesus has enabled us to draw near to God always!

To grow in my relationship with Jesus by spending 10 devoted minutes to Him every day...

God sees in you someone who can lift up others. Check out our newest podcast, The Nonmicrowaved Truth with C.L. Whiteside! Search for it on your favorite podcast app.To stay rooted in Jesus, subscribe to our daily email! https://timeofgrace.org/subscribe/ Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support, please donate here: http://bit.ly/2K06lcJYou can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing to get new videos each weekday: http://bit.ly/385Piz4

In the early 1960s, the US was filled with anticipation of a bright future. Youthful President John F. Kennedy had introduced the New Frontier, the Peace Corps, and the task of reaching the moon. A thriving economy caused many people to expect the future to simply “let the good times roll.” Then the war in Vietnam escalated, unrest on a national level unfolded, Kennedy’s assassination took place, and a dismantling of the accepted norms of that previously optimistic society ensued. Optimism simply wasn’t enough, and in its wake, disillusionment prevailed. Then, in 1967, theologian Jürgen Moltmann’s A Theology of Hope pointed to a clearer vision. This path was not the way of optimism but the way of hope. The two are not the same thing. Moltmann affirmed that optimism is based on the circumstances of the moment, but hope is rooted in God’s faithfulness—regardless of our situation. What is the source of this hope? Peter wrote, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). Our faithful God has conquered death through His Son Jesus! The reality of this greatest of all victories lifts us beyond mere optimism to a strong, robust hope—every day and in every circumstance.

To grow in my relationship with Jesus by spending 10 devoted minutes to Him every day...

To grow in my relationship with Jesus by spending 10 devoted minutes to Him every day...

To grow in my relationship with Jesus by spending 10 devoted minutes to Him every day...

This coming year, you're going to see your weaknesses. But there, Pastor Jeremy reassures, you will also find strength. Check out our newest podcast, The Nonmicrowaved Truth with C.L. Whiteside! Search for it on your favorite podcast app.To stay rooted in Jesus, subscribe to our daily email! https://timeofgrace.org/subscribe/ Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support, please donate here: http://bit.ly/2K06lcJYou can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing to get new videos each weekday: http://bit.ly/385Piz4

The social media powerhouse Twitter created a platform where people all over the world express opinions in short sound bites. In recent years, however, this formula has become more complex as individuals have begun to leverage Twitter as a tool to reprimand others for attitudes and lifestyles they disagree with. Log on to the platform on any given day, and you’ll find the name of at least one person “trending.” Click on that name, and you’ll find millions of people expressing opinions about whatever controversy has emerged. We’ve learned to publicly criticize everything from the beliefs people hold to the clothes they wear. The reality, however, is that a critical and unloving attitude doesn’t align with who God has called us to be as believers in Jesus. After all, his death on the cross is the ultimate forgiveness. While there will be times when we disagree and hold opposing opinions, the Bible reminds us that as believers we’re to always carry ourselves with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12). Instead of being harshly critical, even of our enemies, God urges us to “bear with each other and forgive one another” (v. 13). This treatment isn’t limited to the people whose lifestyles and beliefs we agree with. Even when it’s difficult, may we extend grace and love to everyone we encounter as Christ guides us, recognizing that we’ve been redeemed by His love.

Do you sometimes look at your past and wonder if you could ever be loved?Check out our newest podcast, The Nonmicrowaved Truth with C.L. Whiteside! Search for it on your favorite podcast app.To stay rooted in Jesus, subscribe to our daily email! https://timeofgrace.org/subscribe/ Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support, please donate here: http://bit.ly/2K06lcJYou can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing to get new videos each weekday: http://bit.ly/385Piz4

Resolutions, it seems, are made to be broken. Some folks poke fun at this reality by proposing New Year’s vows that are—shall we say—attainable. Here are a few from social media: Wave to fellow motorists at stoplights. Sign up for a marathon. Don’t run it. Stop procrastinating—tomorrow. Get lost without any help from Siri. Unfriend everyone who posts their workout regimen. The concept of a fresh start can be serious business, however. The exiled people of Judah desperately needed one. Just over two decades into their seventy-year captivity, God brought encouragement to them through the prophet Ezekiel, promising, “I will now restore the fortunes of Jacob” (39:25). But the nation first needed to return to the basics—the instructions God had given to Moses eight hundred years earlier. This included observing a feast at the new year. For the ancient Jewish people, that began in early spring (45:18). A major purpose of their festivals was to remind them of God’s character and His expectations. God told their leaders, “Give up your violence and oppression and do what is just and right” (v. 9) and insisted on honesty (v. 10). The lesson applies to us too. Our faith must be put into practice or it’s worthless (James 2:17). In this new year, as God provides what we need, may we live out our faith by returning to the basics: “Love the Lord your God,” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37–39).

As you reflect back on this year, how do you handle your regrets?Check out our newest podcast, The Nonmicrowaved Truth with C.L. Whiteside! Search for it on your favorite podcast app.To stay rooted in Jesus, subscribe to our daily email! https://timeofgrace.org/subscribe/ Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support, please donate here: http://bit.ly/2K06lcJYou can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing to get new videos each weekday: http://bit.ly/385Piz4

Towering dunes along the north shore of Silver Lake put nearby homes at risk of sinking into shifting sands. Though residents have tried moving mounds of sand in efforts to protect their homes, they have watched helplessly as well-built houses were buried right before their eyes. As a local sheriff oversaw the cleanup of a recently destroyed cottage, he affirmed the process couldn’t be opposed or prevented. No matter how hard homeowners try to avoid the dangers of these unsteady embankments, the dunes simply cannot provide a strong foundational support. Jesus knew the futility of building a house on sand. After warning the disciples to be wary of false prophets, the Lord assured them that loving obedience demonstrates wisdom (Matthew 7:15-23). He said that everyone who hears His words and “puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24). The one who hears God’s words and chooses not to put them into practice, however, is “like a foolish man who built his house on sand” (v. 26). When circumstances feel like shifting sands burying us under the weight of affliction or worries, we can place our hope in Christ‒our Rock. He will help us develop resilient faith built on the unshakeable foundation of His unchanging character.

“Whenever my grandfather took me to the beach,” Sandra reminisced, “he always took off his watch and put it away. One day I asked him why.” “He smiled and replied, ‘Because I want you to know how important my moments with you are to me. I just want to be with you, and let time go by.’” I heard Sandra share that recollection at her grandfather’s funeral. It was one of her favorite memories of their life together. As I reflected on how valued it makes us feel when others take time for us, it brought to mind Scripture’s words on God’s loving care. God always makes time for us. David prays in Psalm 145, “You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. The Lord is near” (vv. 16–18). God’s goodness and thoughtful attention sustain our lives each moment, providing us with air to breath and food to eat. Because He is rich in love, the Creator of all things mercifully crafts even the most intricate details of our existence. God’s love is so deep and unending that in His kindness and mercy He has even opened the way to eternal life and joy in His presence. As if to say, “I love you so much, I just want to be with you forever, and let time go by.”

When Bryony turned thirty, she was sad to still be in a sales job she’d never liked. She decided it was time to stop procrastinating and find a new career. For David, New Year’s Eve had him looking in the mirror vowing this would be the year he lost weight. And for James, it was watching another month pass without his angry outbursts decreasing. Next month, he promised himself, he would try harder. If you’ve ever vowed to change at the start of a new month, new year, or a major birthday, you’re not alone. Researchers even have a name for it: the fresh start effect. They suggest that at calendar points like these we are more prone to assess our lives and try putting our failures behind us to start over. Wanting to be better people, we long for a fresh start. Faith in Jesus speaks powerfully to this longing, offering a vision of what our best selves can be (Colossians 3:12–14), and calling us to leave our past selves behind (vv. 5–8). It offers this change not by decisions and vows alone, but by divine power. When we choose to follow Jesus, we become new people; and God’s Spirit works in us to make us whole (vv. 9–10; Titus 3:5). Receiving salvation in Jesus is the ultimate fresh start. And it doesn’t need to wait for a special calendar date. Your new life can start right now.